C is for Come What May

  I love this Quote from Joseph B. Wirthlin " Come what may and love it." It is such a powerful reminder to me to remember that no matter the storms or whirlwinds that come my way, to find joy in it. To accept the challenges that come my way and to love those struggles, because those are the things that make me stronger. Those are the things that help me grow and to reach my highest potential. I accepted these challenges before I came to this earth so why shouldn't I find joy in those challenges today?  I hope that each day as I go through my life that I can say "Come what may" and I will love it!

B is for Believe

"Be believing, be happy, don't get discouraged, things will work out."

-Gordon B. Hinckley

 

So often I feel overwhelmed with the struggles and trials that I face. I often wonder how I can do it all, how will it work out and will it?  This promise from Gordon B. Hinckley brings me so much comfort to know that if I believe and don't let myself get so discouraged, but turn my thoughts to the Lord and find joy in the journey, that things will work out.
 

Most of all,I think it is so important to believe, to believe in good things. To believe in true things. To believe that things will work out. I know that when we believe and trust in the lord, things always work out.



A is for Always Remember

"At times we may feel insignificant, invisible, alone, or forgotten. But always remember - you matter to Him! Just think of it: You are known [personally] and remembered by the most majestic, powerful, and glorious Being in the universe! You are loved by the King of infinite space and everlasting time! He sees you as you are capable and designed to become. May we ever believe, trust and understand our true eternal worth and potential."

 - Dieter F. Uchtdorf

 

 

As I thought about what I wanted to do for the A to Z challenge this year, I decided that I wanted to share some of my favorite Quotes and why they are so meaningful to me. 

 

This quote is important and so powerful to me, because how wonderful it is, that we are able to know that our Father in Heaven knows and understands each of us individually. 

 

 How amazing it is, to know that you are so loved on such a deep level that you can't even comprehend it. That God sees you for the person he knows you can become.

 

It is such a blessing to me to know that I matter to him.

 

Always Remember that you matter to Him!





All Who Love

To some, Valentine's day is all about being in a relationship and having a lover. You have to have someone to love to be in a relationship. But that's just it. Isn't having someone to love the point? Isn't this holiday about sharing love?  Anyone who has the capacity to love... Valentine's day is for you.

This day is a day to celebrate love.  It is a reminder of how much we ourselves are loved as well as a reminder to express our love with all who we come in contact with.  The savior said: "Love one another, as I have loved you.". The Savior loves each one of us more than we can even comprehend.

Valentine's day is a reminder to express our deepest gratitude and love to those we care about, as well as to those we may even have just met.  A friendly smile, being patient on the roads, being considerate to others, giving a simple hug, whatever it may be if it is done out of love, this day is for you. 

Today and everyday is a day to remember to love and you are so deeply loved! All who love... this day is for you!


                                                           Happy Valentine's Day!

                                                  Sending you a big hug full of love,

                                                                       Jessica

It's Like A Symphony, Just Keep Listening

The movie "Meet the Mormon's" was very inspiring to me. It really motivated me to come to understand the gospel to a deeper level than what I have known, but especially in coming to understand who I am. I think the thing that inspired me the most from that movie is the song sung at the end called "Glorious."

 

This song is beautiful and when I am having a hard day I probably listen to it about 50 times. This song means a lot to me. I was going through a hard time when this movie came out, but it meant the most to me when I went to the "Time Out For Women" conference here in Salt Lake.  I had many questions on my mind as I went to this conference and I was struggling to understand some things about myself and about life in general and when they sung this song at that conference, my heart filled with joy and I felt so much peace and love from my Father in Heaven. 

 

My favorite part of this song is the chorus. We are all a part of this symphony we call life and it is so important that we remember to take the time to listen to our Father in Heaven, to listen to the different parts that everyone is playing and to figure out what our part is. 

 

 I love that in the background, if you listen close, they will sing the word listen or listening many times throughout the song. To me, this is a good reminder to take the time to ponder, to be by myself for just a moment and be with the lord. A reminder to listen to the spirit and to feel of his peace.

 

It is so amazing, what we're all creating! Each one of us is so amazing! You are so amazing!!  As you come to understand and know that for yourself, I know that you will be able to share your light and love more fully with others. I have learned this lesson many times throughout my life and probably will learn it again many more times, but it is amazing how when you are loving yourself, and speaking and thinking kindly of yourself, how much of a difference you make in the lives of the people around you. You never know the impact that you may have on someone.

 

 

There are times when
You might feel aimless
You can't see the places
Where you belong
But you will find that
There is a purpose
It's been there
Within you all along
And when you're near it
You can almost hear it

It's like a symphony
Just keep listening
And pretty soon you'll start
To figure out your part
Everyone plays a piece
And there are melodies
In each one of us
Oh! It's glorious

And you will know how
To let it ring out
As you discover
Who you are
Others around you
Will start to wake up
To the sounds that are
In their hearts
It's so amazing
What we're all creating

It's like a symphony
Just keep listening
And pretty soon you'll start
To figure out your part
Everyone plays a piece
And there are melodies
In each one of us
Oh! It's glorious

Oh, oh, oh
As you feel
The notes build
Oh, you will see

It's like a symphony
Just keep listening
And pretty soon you'll start
To figure out your part
Everyone plays a piece
And there are melodies
In each one of us
Oh! It's glorious

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GytW_rgr0RM

 

A Simple Hug

As long as I can remember I have always had a great desire to share with others God's love.  Even though at times I have struggled with understanding or even seeing his love for me, that desire is still there.  It has always been important to me to share with others how special they truly are not only to me, but to our Heavenly Father.  One experience in particular that I have had in the past, has been coming to my mind over and over again for quite sometime and I would like to share this experience with you. 

I was on Trax one day riding home from school at the U of U to Daybreak.  About a half hour into the ride I noticed a girl in the seat across from me crying. I paid close attention to her and as I sat there I got the impression that I needed to give her a hug.  I didn't know why, but that feeling didn't go away for the last half hour of the ride.  I was so nervous, but that nervousness told me that this was no ordinary thought, this was something from the spirit. 

At the last stop she stayed in her seat waiting for everyone else to get off, but I walked over and said "Excuse me, could I give you a hug?" She nodded and I gave her a big hug that lasted a few minutes.  Afterwards she said "Thank You" and we went our separate ways. 

 

I don't know what difference that hug made to this girl, but I do know what a difference it made to me. I've thought about that day many times since. I know I have had moments in my life where I was struggling and all I've wanted is a big hug. So, in thinking from this girls point of view, if a stranger came up to me and asked if I needed a hug on one of those rough days, I probably would accept without hesitation. 

I learned that it is important to follow those simple promptings or good thoughts that you may have.  Even though I don't know how it effected her, I do know that God loves all of his children and that we are here to help each other.  I know God loves me. He showed me that he loves this daughter, that I gave this hug to, so much that he wanted me to share his love for her through that hug. He wanted me to show her how much she is loved even by a complete stranger.

That experience happened about a year and a half ago, but has been on my mind almost every day.  I too have needed that reminder that God loves me many times. I thought I was giving this hug just for this beautiful daughter of God, but over time that experience has affected me in ways I can hardly describe. I gained reassurance, peace and I have been able to see how much my Heavenly Father loves and trusts me.

We are here to help each other, to help each other come to know him and through simple acts of kindness we are sharing God's light.  What an incredible gift it is to be able to share God's love.  We are all here to learn and grow and we are here to support and lift each other. 

If With A Single Loaf

"Has anyone ever told you that you are extraordinary? That you are destined for remarkable things?  That there is a spark of greatness in you?

They should have."

 

Recently I read a book called "The Peter Potential." In this book it goes through the life of Peter and the things that Christ had taught him. Christ taught Peter through invitations. By inviting him to do things that may have been difficult for him or challenged him. Through those invitations, Peter grew and did things that brought him closer to Christ, as well as helped him to come closer to reaching his true potential. 

 

 When Christ calmed the storm and came walking on water Peter asked "Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.". (Matthew 12:28)

 

Then the Lord invited Peter by saying "Come" (Matthew 14:29)

Sometimes Accepting invitations from the lord requires action, actions that are focused on Him.  Peter walked on the water. 
 

 It's not hard for a little mustard seed to be blown away by a powerful gust of wind.  The same applies to a little faith. Peter began to sink when he began to doubt. 

 

"In the sinking moments of life, when you have wondered if you might drown, have you ever cried out, "Lord, Save Me"?"

 

In those moments where you have felt like you were sinking, where was the Lord? 

Within Reach.

 

When Peter started to sink "Immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him.".

 (Matthew 14:31)

 

 

Recently, I have gone through something that has left me wondering "If I might drown." I felt like I was caught up in a whirlwind of chaos and I couldn't get out, but then the Lord "stretched forth his hand and caught me."
 

 Sometimes things happen and you don't understand why.  Sometimes the Lord needs to send you a firm reminder that he is there and extends that invitation to you to "come."

 

He knows everything about you.  He knows what keeps you up at night. He knows what weighs on your heart. He knows your longing to become something more. 

 

If the Lord can do something like walk on water or share 5 loaves of bread with a multitude of five thousand, imagine what he can do for you.

 

I know in my life I have seen it so many times.  The Lord has been there and has strengthened me.  Through the invitations that the lord gives to me, I have found myself grow.  I have seen the lord's hand in my life.  As I do those things that are most important, the things that may seem to be falling out of place and in utter chaos, come together and work for your good. Everything works out when you come to him and have faith and trust that God can do great things. 

 

Sometimes when we head down one road and road blocks arise, we need to be redirected.  It doesn't mean we chose wrong, but rather that the path we took just needs a little refining. 

 

He knows what you can do.  He knows what you can be.  Nothing is impossible with God.  He can make the impossible, possible as long as you put your faith and trust in him.  He can take a grain of mustard seed and make it blossom. 

 

"If the Lord can do great things with a single loaf, Imagine what he can do with a single life."

-The Peter Potential